Joytu Sheikh Hasina International GM Chess begins Sunday

DHAKA - Joytu Sheikh Hasina International Grand Master
Chess tournament, on the occasion of 75th birth anniversary of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, begins Sunday (Sept 19) at Hotel 71 in the city.

   A total of twelve grand masters, sixteen international masters and three
women's international masters from ten countries including host Bangladesh
will compete in the nine round Swiss league basis meet which will be
participated by record numbers of grandmasters this time.

   Bangladesh Chess Federation (BCF) is organizing the competition which will
be held under the patronization of Canadian University of Bangladesh for the
second successive times.

   The main prize money of the competition is U$$ 13,000.00 (thirteen
thousand) out of the total prize money of U$$ 15,000.00 (fifteen thousand).
The champion will get U$$ 4,000.00, the runners-up will have U$$ 2,500.00,
third place finisher will have U$$ 1,500.00 while the fourth to eighth place
finishers will get U$$ 1,000.00 each.

   Meanwhile, reserve prize money of U$$ 2,000.00 will be given to
Bangladeshi players as follows: 1st prize U$$ 700, 2nd U$$ 500, 3rd U$$ 400,
4th U$$ 200, fifth U$$ 200.

   In this regard, a press conference was held today in the city's local
hotel to provide all the details of the meet.

   Sajjadul Hasan, chairman of Bangladesh Biman, Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat,
BCF vice president and chairman of Canadian University of Bangladesh, BCF
vice president KM Shahidullah, BCF general secretary Syed Shabuddin Shamim,
Bangladesh Police Additional Deputy Inspector General and BCF joint secretary
Dr Shoyeb Riaz Alom and BCF joint secretary Masudur Rahman Mollik, were among
others, present in the press conference.

   Speaking as the chief guest, Bangladesh Biman chairman Sajjadul Hasan said
he is very delighted to be part of the tournament organized on the occasion
of the 75th birth anniversary of Prime Minister.

   He also thanked the BCF and Canadian University of Bangladesh on this
auspicious occasion and hoped that this tournament would get a huge success.

   Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat, BCF vice president and chairman of Canadian
University of Bangladesh said it's a great pleasure to organize the
tournament on the occasion of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's 75th birth anniversary.

He also wished to take the prestigious tournament in a greater height in the future.BSS